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Edinburgh (South Queensferry) United Kingdom

Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland, is built on an extinct volcano. The port of South Queensferry is located 18km east of Edinburgh. The Old Town is a maze of alleys and cobbled streets filled with historic castles, museums and cathedrals. After the Act of Union of 1707, Scotland joined England and many wealthy people abandoned Edinburgh for London. The Georgian terraces of the New Town were built with the aim of attracting them again. Both the Old City and the New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites . In August, Edinburgh hosts the Frindge Art Festival and the Military Tattoo .

The banks of Scotland issue their own currency which is at parity with the pound sterling.

Watch out for the rain. In July and August, there may be mosquitoes. Bring mosquito repellent.

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5% to 10% will be appreciated in restaurants and taxis.

GBP British pound

Time difference

from New York: +5h

from San Francisco: +7h

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Where is located the Port of South Queensferry Cruise Terminal

The harbour is located 18km east of Edinburgh. The ships are anchored in the Forth River and passengers transferred by small boats to Hawes pier in the town of South Queensferry.

Smaller ships can dock at The Ocean Terminal in Leith near the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Travelling around the Edinburgh (South Queensferry) Cruise Port

Dalmeny Train Station is located at the top of the hill. The journey to Edinburgh’s Waverley Station (near Princes Street) is about 20 minutes and the cost is about 4 pounds.

Once in Edinburgh the various sites are easily visited on foot.

Activities in Edinburgh (South Queensferry)

Neighborhoods.

The street leading from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace in the middle of the Old Town. Several local product shops are located here.

Calton Hill

Climb this hill for a beautiful view of the city and its monuments.

Arthur’s Seat

A hill in Holyrood Park with interesting views.

Holyrood Palace

The official residence of the Queen of Scotland. Admission costs £11 (June 2013). Visits are only possible when the royal family is away.

Scott Monument

Climb the 287 steps to see this monument on Princes Street. Admission costs £4 (June 2013).

Scottish Parliament

You can visit this modern building near Holyrood Palace for free.

Floors Castle

Residence of the Duke of Roxburghe, one of the largest inhabited castles in Scotland.

Glamis Castle

Royal residence since 1372.

Historical sites

Edinburgh castle.

This hilltop royal fortress is home to the jewels of Scottish royalty. A cannon shot is fired at 1PM every day except Sunday. Admission costs £16 (June 2013) and tickets can be purchased online to avoid the queue. Plan an hour and a half for the visit of the castle.

Dryburgh Abbey

Ruins of a 12th century monastery.

Royal Yacht Britannia

Visit the royal family former ship. You can see the royal apartments as well as the crew quarters and the engine room. Admission costs £12 (June 2013) and tickets can be purchased online. Plan at least an hour and a half for the visit if you want to take advantage of the audioguide.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

National gallery of scotland, scottish national gallery of modern art, royal botanic garden.

The visit to the gardens is free, but the visit to the greenhouses costs £4.50 (June 2013)

Medieval town where the Royal - Ancient Golf Club and the British Museum on the Golf are located.

Excursions in Edinburgh (South Queensferry)

Visitors on their first visit will probably want to tour the city and visit Edinburgh Castle.

Other excursions will show you attractions in Edinburgh’s vicinity.

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Useful References

• Tourism Board - Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
• Tourism Board - United Kingdom
• Visit Scotland
• Edinburgh (South Queensferry) on Wikipedia
• United Kingdom on Wikipedia
• Travel Advice and Advisories (Government of Canada)

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You will be anchored and tendered to South Queensferry, within sight of the famous Forth Railway Bridge.

Most cruise lines offer shuttles to the center of Edinburgh (16.90 Euros), but only announce this the night before, so not to disturb their excursion sales.

The ship's shuttle (25 minutes trip) will drop you off at Waterloo Place, just a few steps from the point where all hop on/off buses start. Just past Waverley Station.

The local bus company Lothian run buses right at the quay side into Edinburgh taking approx 35 mins, at a cost of £12.00 each return. They drop you in Saint David`s Street which is very central, this is opposite the Scott Monument, so it is easy to find you way back to pick up the bus.Ticket can be used all day on local buses in Edinburgh.

Taxis have a fixed one way rate per taxi (not per person) for 25 Pound.

Climb a small hill (110 steps!) to the railway station at Dalmeny and spent the day in Edinburgh . Trains are every 20 minutes with a journey time of 15 minutes, and cost just over £8, for a return ticket.

Video of the tender into South Queensferry.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise Schedule .

Watch a destination video .

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers

Port Location on Google Maps

Monthly Climate Averages for Queensferry Edinburgh Scotland United Kingdom

Sightseeing:

You can walk the waterfront, admire the little Priory Church of St Mary, browse the handful of remaining shops and relax on the sidewalk cafes.

Tours Excursions Transportation:

For Edinburgh click here .

It pays to compare your cruise line tours here

Nearby Places:

Shopping and food.

The currency throughout the UK is the pound (£). You may also hear the slang term quid for pounds. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so change the notes before leaving Scotland.

Please make sure you get change in English notes as Scottish notes are not everywhere accepted in the rest of the UK.

Cash machines (ATM) or less formally 'holes in the wall' are very widely available and usually dispense £10 and £20 notes.

Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, are accepted by most shops and restaurants.

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Communication:

English is spoken throughout the country, but sometimes with heavy accents!

Many locations on the High St have free WiFi including the museum.

There is also free WiFi on the public bus 43. The local emergency telephone number is 999, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used.

Opening Hours and Holidays:

Shopping hours are in general:

Small stores 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm) Larger stores in general stay open til' 9PM Hyper marts often 24/7

Holidays in the United Kingdom

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Leith-Edinburgh (Newhaven-Rosyth-Queensferry, Scotland)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Ireland - UK - British Isles

Local Time 2024-04-24 13:40

Port Leith-Edinburgh cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Leith-Edinburgh, Newhaven-Rosyth-Queensferry, Scotland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Edinburgh's principal cruise port is Port Leith, but some ships may alternatively stop at Newhaven (tender cruise port). Both seaports are located on Firth of Forth's southern shore. Firth of Forth (mainland Scotland) is River Forth's estuary. Aberdeen Harbour is approx 100 mi (160 km) away. Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city. By population (around 0,5 million, metro 1,35 million) it is ranked country's 2nd largest - after Glasgow . Edinburgh is also UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting international and UK tourist with its historic sights, castles, numerous entertainment and activities options, the annual Edinburgh Festival.

Forth Ports (Edinburgh's cruise port operator company) manages a total of 7 UK seaport terminals and anchorages - Leith, Dundee, London-Tilbury , plus the anchorages Rosyth, South Queensferry and Newhaven (England). In 2018, Edinburgh received 114 cruise ship calls with 150,000+ tourists (passengers and crew). In 2019, the number grew to 155,000.

Port Leith (Edinburgh)

Port Leith (locode GBLEI) is to the northeast of Edinburgh City and is within the city's council area. Leith is one of Edinburgh's most profitable enterprises, with annual cargo shipping capacity 1.5+ million tons.

Leith Docks became Edinburgh's port in early-19th-century, when there were built numerous facilities serving the shipbuilding and ship repair industries. During 19th-century, Leith also became a major port serving Scotland's herring export trade.

Currently, Port Leith is Scotland's biggest enclosed (harbor) deepwater port, with capability to handle vessels up to 50,000 DWT (deadweight tons). Port Leith provides easy access to major roads in Scotland, including A1 highway, Edinburgh by-pass, M8 and M9. It offers road and rail connections and is perfectly located for North Sea shipping operations of any kind. Port's busy cruising season is March through October, with roundtrip itineraries offered mainly by large liners operated by Cunard , Princess , MSC , Costa .

In January 2023, the cruiseferry Tallink Victoria I (permanently berthed at Imperial Dock and being chartered by the Scottish government to house Ukrainian refugees) became Port Leith's first vessel to receive shore-power . The technology allows berthed vessels to switch off their diesel engines/electricity generators and instead use electricity from the city grid for their onboard hotel services. In this case, the ship was provided with electricity generated from non-fossil fuels (wind turbines).

In January 2023 was also completed the Port's electrical network extension (connection to the Harbour Berth) that now allows shore-power supply to offshore construction vessels homeported in Leith.

Port Rosyth (Edinburgh)

An alternative cruise port for Edinburgh is Port Rosyth (locode GBROY), but it is rarely used. Large-sized liners usually anchor near South Queensferry (opposite to Rosyth), from where their passengers are tendered ashore. Port Rosyth is located across Forth Railway Bridge, approx 35-min drive distance from Edinburgh's downtown. Rosyth is a ferry port used by Blue Star Ferries .

Next photo shows South Queensferry's cruise ship anchorage area.

South Queensferry (aka "The Ferry") is a small port town located approx 10 mi (16 km) to the northwest of Edinburgh downtown. The town is between Forth Railway Bridge and Forth Road Bridge. The prefix "South" is used to distinguish it from the town "North Queensferry". Both towns are named for the established by Queen Margaret (aka Margaret of Wessex, 1045-1093) ferry service between them. The service was discontinued in 1964, when the Forth Road Bridge was inaugurated.

The above photo shows Rosyth Dockyard (part of the seaport). Rosyth Dockyard is a naval dockyard owned and operated by Babcock Marine Ltd (2007-founded subsidiary of Babcock International Group / multinational corporation). Before the company's privatization in 1987, the large shipyard complex was named "Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth" and was operated as British Government-owned and contractor-managed facility. In 1997, Babcock International purchased the shipyard. Currently, this is the shipbuilding yard for the UK's newest and largest aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth-class.

In 2017, the Fred Olsen -owned ship Black Watch offered a total of 8 cruises leaving roundtrip from Rosyth. Operated in the period August 14 through October 14, the roundtrip itineraries included 7-night Norwegian Fjords, 10-night Northern European cities, 16-night Canary Islands and Madeira . Also roundtrip from Rosyth, In 2017 the company offered (for the first time ever) 2 river cruises. The itineraries were themed "French Rivers" and "German Waterways".

According to statistical data provided by Peter Wilson (cruiseforth.com), for season 2019, from all the 110 scheduled to visit Edinburgh cruise liners, 34 were booked at Newhaven, 29 at Rosyth, 25 at Leith and 22 at Queensferry.

In October 2022 was announced the "Forth Green Freeport" project to transform Rosyth into a modern port, an advanced shipbuilding and manufacturing center as well as a major logistics hub. The project (budgeted ~GBP 1 billion/~EUR 1,14B) included the construction of a new cargo terminal, a new rail freight connection, manufacturing facilities for the marine renewable energy industry (offshore wind farms) and green power generation.

• Forth Green Freeport covers an area of ~150 hectares/~370 acres (sites within Rosyth and Burntisland) owned by the companies Babcock International Group plc, Forth Ports Ltd and Scarborough Muir Group Ltd.
• Forth Green Freeport's employment at Rosyth and Burntisland included ~7000 newly created local jobs in addition to ~50,000 new jobs across Scotland.

In July 2022, DFDS Seaways (Danish ferry company) signed with Ptarmigan Shipping an agreement for a new freight ferry route connecting Rosyth with Zeebrugge-Bruges Belgium (opened in 2023)

Leith-Edinburgh cruise terminal

Smaller-sized cruise ships to Edinburgh dock at Leith port's cruise terminal located approx 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Edinburgh. Cruise vessels enter the port from River Forth's estuary. The dock can accommodate vessels with max LOA length 720 ft (220 m).

Newhaven UK is a tender cruise port, meaning passengers are tendered between the anchored ship and the quay (~10-min ride). Newhaven Port Authority complimentary provides bus transfer to Ocean Terminal's shopping mall. At the quay, there are a taxi rank and a bus station.

Port Leith is an important destination for Northern Europe's ship cruising industry. The port handles around 40 cruise vessels and 20,000 passengers annually. Leith Cruise Terminal provides good facilities for turnarounds (roundthrips) and transit calls.  Its central location is convenient for shore excursions and tours to Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

The cruise ship terminal building features a modern design and has all the necessary passenger facilities, including waiting area, phone, internet, toilets. More amenities are offered by the "Ocean Terminal" shopping mall, located at 5-min walking distance from the Leith cruise port terminal. The mall has shops, banking facilities, restaurants, cafes, car parking, and is served by Lothian Buses lines 11, 22, 34, 35, 36. Lothian Buses started the direct service "X99 Cruiselink" Queensferry-Edinburgh (in 2018) and Newhaven-Edinburgh (in 2019).

At Port Leith are available taxis and shuttle buses. The port's parking area is adjacent to the cruise terminal and can accommodate up to 450 vehicles (cars and tour buses). The closest to the cruise port airport (Edinburgh Airport) is about 30 min ride. The closest to the port railway station (Waverley) is about 15-min ride from the cruise terminal.

At Ocean Terminal is also the permanently berthed Royal Yacht Britannia (officially "HMY Britannia"). This is Queen Elizabeth II's former royal yacht, operated in the period 1954-1997.

Large cruise ships dock at Newhaven (Edinburgh City's district) located between Leith and Granton. It is approx 3 km (2 ml) north of downtown Edinburgh. These liners actually anchor near Newhaven and their passengers are transported between the anchorage point and the tender pier via tender boats. This distance is approx 1,7 mi (3 km) or about 15-min ride.

At Port Rosyth, due to the lack of public transportation service, the available ways for cruise ship passengers are taxis (at the passenger / ferry terminal building) and eventually shuttle bus service provided by the cruise company.

Most cruise operators offer shuttles to Edinburgh's downtown. This service is at fee pp. The local bus operator Cramond Coaches provides an alternative shuttle service to downtown. Cramond Coaches staff will be waiting at the pier. Their buses go to Charlotte Square, from where passengers can catch the green bus (hop-on / hop-off) for the popular Edinburgh Tour. Cruise line's bus shuttle offers 25-min travel to Waterloo Place (a green bus stop).

• Edinburgh castle: the castle is the most popular landmark in the city. It is two kilometres from Edinburgh cruise port. It is located on a volcanic rock’s top. The view from the highest point offers a panorama of the Firth of Forth and Fife. Inside you can see the Great Hall, the St Margaret’s Chapel and the Stone of Destiny.
• The Royal Mile: the one-mile long road connects the Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, both Royal Residences.
• Royal Botanic Garden: the second oldest (after Oxford’s) British botanic garden. It dates from 1670 and was originally medicinal plants garden. It is located in the north of the city and is amazing, especially in the spring time.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival: the world’s largest art festival is held for three weeks every August.
• National Museum of Scotland: located on Chambers Street. It was reopened in July 2011 after a renovation for £47 million. It houses 16 galleries and displays more than 8,000 different objects.
• Camera Obscura: spend a really fun time! Located in Victorian rooftop chamber near the Edinburgh Castle’ entrance.

Leith-Edinburgh tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Cruise to Edinburgh (S. Queensferry), Scotland

Edinburgh (s. queensferry) shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in edinburgh (s. queensferry).

Climb Castle Rock

A close up view of the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city's skyline from its position on Castle Rock. You can check out the free views outside. But there are many exciting paid exhibits inside, too, including the Crown Jewels, the Great Hall, the National War Museum and the Stone of Destiny.

Be a Wise Guy

Interior view of the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh is full of opportunities for learning. It's free to visit the National Museum of Scotland, with exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to medieval decorative art. The free Writers' Museum celebrates Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson. For other educational stops, check out the Surgeons' Hall Museum and the Museum of Childhood.

Follow in Harry's Footsteps

Harry Potter fans will know all about Edinburgh's place in the creation of the much-loved books. Cruise to Edinburgh and head to the Elephant House and Spoon Cafes, where Rowling wrote parts of her first book. Greyfriars Kirkyard's gravestones inspired some of the characters' names, and colorful Victoria Street was the inspiration behind Diagon Alley. There's also the luxurious Rowling Suite at the Balmoral Hotel.

Local Cuisine

Be brave and try Scotland's signature dish: haggis. It's a savory pudding of meat (sometimes liver and heart), oats, onions and spices — and yes, it's cooked inside a sheep's stomach, but it serves more as a sausage casing than anything else. Not feeling up for the experience? Try one of the city's many upscale farm-to-table eateries, where you'll find dishes like local lamb served along daikon radishes and woodruff, a wild herb.

Harry Potter fans need to visit Diagon House or Galaxy. You can also pick up a tartan or cashmere keepsake at one of the Royal Mile's many souvenir stores, including the House of Edinburgh. For unique jewelry, prints and gifts handmade by indie designers from the U.K. and abroad, visit Hannah Zakari during your cruise.

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Edinburgh (South Queensferry) Cruise Reviews

1 - 10 of 201 edinburgh (south queensferry) cruise reviews.

Sail Date: September 2023

Review for a Europe - British Isles & Western Cruise on Viking Mars

Too crowded during the festival! ... Read More

Sail Date: August 2023

Review for a Arctic Cruise on Norwegian Star

So much to see. Let down by the fact that there isnt a cruise terminal near the city. NCL tendered in from the river estuary. Some other lines use Rosyth which is a long train or bus trip into the city. ... Read More

Sail Date: May 2023

Review for a Europe - British Isles & Western Cruise on Norwegian Dawn

Port itself was amazing, with so much to do. Tendering was not great though. They should consider using larger tender boats and not the life boats from the ship ... Read More

Review for a Europe - British Isles & Western Cruise on Viking Venus

South Queensferry is too far from town. Included tour spends too much time in traffic. Shopping on Royal Mile is crowded and expensive. ... Read More

Took the full day tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh Castle. The yacht was well worth seeing and a great tour. Loved Edinburgh Castle but it did "try to kill us" with the steep uphill climb to the top. Having said that, we would certainly do it again. ... Read More

Sail Date: April 2023

Review for a Europe - All Cruise on Norwegian Dawn

Did not do a tour from the ship. This was a tender port which adds much time to get out and about. The city had people to help buy a bus pass. Getting to the Royal Mile was easy. The Royal Mile was disappointing. It was like NYC 5 Avenue where many lower ends souvenir were available. We did get lost walking around, to get the bus to go back to the ship. It was a decent city. ... Read More

Sail Date: August 2022

Review for a Norwegian Fjords Cruise on Viking Venus

Edingburgh is a fascinating city with a long history. The Royal Mile, Holyrood, the Castle and other buildings are great to see and explore. Trying to see them on a relatively brief bus tour is not the way to see Edinburgh. We had spent 5 days in Edinburgh a few years ago and truly enjoyed it. The 5 stars is for the city; the tour itself was probably a 1 star. ... Read More

Sail Date: July 2022

Review for a Europe - British Isles & Western Cruise on Norwegian Spirit

Heard history of the Royal Mile on the way to the Britannia ... Read More

Sail Date: September 2019

Explored the castle and had tea ... Read More

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South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland, United Kingdom

History was made in this port, just across the Firth of Forth from Rosyth, when the future Queen Margaret of Scotland arrived around 1071. Her devout religious attitude established "Queen's Ferry" as the place for pilgrims from abroad to alight on their way to St. Andrews—Scotland's ecclesiastical capital in the Middle Ages. Margaret's legacy continues less than a dozen miles away at Edinburgh Castle. A key attraction up on the castle's rock is St. Margaret's Chapel, believed to be the oldest section of the fortifications and the place where she worshipped. There's more to Scotland's capital than the Castle, though. Edinburgh proudly displays multiple exhibits on national and international scientific achievement at the National Museum of Scotland, as well as some fantastic works of visual art at the National Galleries of Scotland. South Queensferry's moorings are also within easy striking distance of Scotland's largest metropolis: the city of Glasgow. Transformed in many ways since the post–WWII days when it had a reputation for grime and crime, the city is among the most vibrant in the U.K.: It is Scotland's de-facto capital of modern culture, with the hippest DJs and most accomplished conceptual artists.

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Cruises from/to S. Queensferry, Scotland

S. queensferry, scotland cruise port.

Tucked away to the west of Edinburgh in Scotland, South Queensferry, sometimes referred to as “The Ferry,” is a town with about 9,000 residents that lies across the Froth Bridge from North Queensferry. The beautiful waterfront is marvelously on display from a series of walking paths, as well as some relaxing sidewalk cafes. There are a number of old churches in the town, most from the 17 th and 18 th centuries, but some dating back as far as the 15 th century! They all have been preserved and considerably restored at some point, and most still hold services a few times a week. You’ll find plenty of other historic buildings, castles and inns, but a portion of Queensferry has been modernized and contains commercial amenities like grocery stores and fast food joints.

• Inchcolm Abbey is a preserved monastic building built around 1235. Alexander I wished to have a monastery on the island, but the dream wasn’t fulfilled until after his death when his brother David I had it erected in his honor.  
• Forth Road Bridge separates North and South Queensferry. This stunning work of architecture is best observed via a boat trip along the river.  
• Midhope Castle is rumored to have been built in the mid-15 th century, but today the structure is left derelict on private land. It’s still a fabulous sight to see despite the many restrictions placed on visitors by the landowners.  
• The Queensferry Museum is a small museum with only four rooms, but each is packed with interesting artifacts and furniture. Plus, the staff is extremely knowledgeable and add to this fascinating experience.  

Top 10 Cruises to S. Queensferry, Scotland

• Queen Anne 14 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (May 2024 - May 2025)
• Queen Mary 2 30 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Aug 2024 - Sep 2025)
• Queen Mary 2 12 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Aug 2024 - Sep 2025)
• Queen Anne 12 NIGHT Europe CRUISE Departing From Southampton, England (Jun 2026)

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Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland

Description.

South Queensferry is the gateway to Edinburgh, the political, commercial and cultural heart of Scotland. Nestled between the Highlands and the Border Hills, Edinburgh is a gracious city noted for its superb skyline, its impressive collection of architecture and its beautiful parks. The streets of the elegant New Town are lined with graceful Georgian buildings, many designed by the great architect Robert Adam. Edinburgh has also exerted a tremendous cultural force on Europe and the English-speaking world. The International Festival has been one of the premier European cultural events for over half a century. Among those who have called the city home are the writers, Robert Burns, James Boswell, and Sir Walter Scott and the philosophers, Adam Smith and David Hume. To stroll the streets of Edinburgh is to experience one of the world's great cities. Note: South Queensferry is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.

Points of Interest

• Royal Mile & Edinburgh Castle
• Princes Street
• Royal Yacht Britannia
• Holyrood Palace
• St. Andrews
• Floors Castle & Dryburgh Abbey
• Glamis Castle

More about Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland Points of Interest

This imposing castle dominates the cityscape from atop its rocky perch. Situated at the end of historic Royal Mile, its dramatic, medieval design remains largely unchanged since the 18th century.

Delight in the lively atmosphere and scenic beauty of Edinburgh's most popular thoroughfare in the "New Town" area. Browse the colorful shops and fashionable boutiques and enjoy the many sidewalk cafes.

Explore the fine art and ancient artifacts at Edinburgh's exceptional museums and view the monarch's personal possessions on the Yacht Britannia, the Royal Family's former seagoing palace.

Dominating the end of Edinburgh's famed Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace is the official home to the monarch while in Scotland. Its hallowed halls have witnessed some of the most turbulent times in Scotland's history.

Located at the crossing point of the River Forth, Stirling has seen much of Scotland's tumultuous history. Tour its famous castle and battlefields and view royal memorabilia and military artifacts.

Known worldwide as the birthplace of golf, this charming medieval town is home to the legendary Old Course, the venerable Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the exceptional British Golf Museum.

Travel south from Edinburgh to explore the Lowlands, the famed Border Country. Visit stunning Floors Castle, the largest inhabited castle in Scotland, and explore the ruins of 12th-century Dryburgh Abbey.

A royal residence since 1372, the castle is thought to be haunted. Tour Duncan Hall, made famous in Shakespeare's Macbeth, view the medieval royal rooms, and look out for the legendary ghosts.

21 Excursions

Best of edinburgh.

Shopping Opportunities, Moderate Activity, Includes meal

From $ 229.95

Edinburgh, Floors Castle & Dryburgh Abbey

Shopping Opportunities, Moderate Activity

Glamis Castle & St. Andrews

From $ 139.95

Edinburgh City Drive & Time on Your Own

Moderate Activity

Edinburgh On Your Own

From $ 99.95

St. Andrews - Home of Golf

From $ 69.95

Edinburgh Castle & City Drive

From $ 149.95

Braveheart Country & Stirling Castle

From $ 129.95

Easy Edinburgh & National Museum

Easy Activity

From $ 89.95

Easy Edinburgh & National Museum (Wheelchair Accessible)

Wheelchair Accessible, Easy Activity

Local Connections: Whisky & Bagpipes with Local Expert

From $ 169.95

Mary King's Close

From $ 134.95

Royal Mile Walking Tour

Strenuous Activity

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Van Class Full Day (With Guide)

From $ 1899.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Car Class Full Day (With Guide)

From $ 1599.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Van Class Half Day (With Guide)

From $ 1499.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Car Class Half Day (With Guide)

From $ 1299.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Van Class Full Day (Driver Only)

From AUD$ 2099.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Car Class Full Day (Driver Only)

From AUD$ 1679.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Van Class Half Day (Driver Only)

From AUD$ 1399.95

South Queensferry by Private Vehicle - Car Class Half Day (Driver Only)

From AUD$ 979.95

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August 2024

September 2024, october 2024.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Port schedule.

Edinburgh, Scotland cruise ship port calendar shows all scheduled arrival and departure dates in a timetable format. The cruise calendar displays the ship’s estimated time of arrival including related information such as how crowded is the port, as well as the ship’s next port-of-call.

The following timetable provides valuable information and keeps track of the future cruise ship arrivals from all major cruise lines. In order to find out more about the cruise ship itineraries such as ports, dates, and arrival/departure times just follow the ship’s link.

• Viking Venus 930 passengers 29 Apr 2024 - 00:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 08:00
• Viking Saturn 930 passengers 11 May 2024 - 00:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 12 May 2024 - 08:00
• ms Rotterdam 3.210 passengers 13 May 2024 - 08:00
• Viking Sky 930 passengers 15 May 2024 - 00:00
• AIDAsol 2.686 passengers 15 May 2024 - 08:00
• Deutschland 636 passengers 15 May 2024 - 09:00
• Viking Sky 930 passengers 16 May 2024 - 00:00
• Viking Neptune 930 passengers 19 May 2024 - 00:00
• Norwegian Star 2.813 passengers 20 May 2024 - 07:00
• Silver Dawn 691 passengers 21 May 2024 - 08:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 24 May 2024 - 08:00
• Queen Anne 3.353 passengers 26 May 2024 - 00:00
• ms Nieuw Statendam 3.218 passengers 30 May 2024 - 08:00
• Amadea 624 passengers 31 May 2024 - 08:00
• Costa Favolosa 3.617 passengers 03 Jun 2024 - 09:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 05 Jun 2024 - 08:00
• Britannia 4.406 passengers 09 Jun 2024 - 00:00
• Star Pride 312 passengers 10 Jun 2024 - 03:15
• Oceania Sirena 803 passengers 24 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 19:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 12 May 2024 - 19:00
• ms Rotterdam 3.210 passengers 13 May 2024 - 17:00
• AIDAsol 2.686 passengers 15 May 2024 - 18:00
• Deutschland 636 passengers 15 May 2024 - 20:00
• Norwegian Star 2.813 passengers 20 May 2024 - 19:00
• Silver Dawn 691 passengers 21 May 2024 - 22:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 24 May 2024 - 19:00
• ms Nieuw Statendam 3.218 passengers 30 May 2024 - 17:00
• Amadea 624 passengers 31 May 2024 - 23:00
• Costa Favolosa 3.617 passengers 03 Jun 2024 - 21:00
• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 05 Jun 2024 - 19:00

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Our Cruises – View all

Three bridges cruise.

Take in spectacular views of the Three Bridges & the Edinburgh skyline, the seals and other marine wildlife.

INCHCOLM ISLAND CRUISE

Cruise along the Firth of Forth and view the Three Bridges and the 12th century Inchcolm Abbey. Look out for the seals and other marine wildlife

BLACKNESS CASTLE CRUISE

Enjoy an afternoon tea or a cream tea on your cruise and take in the views of Blackness Castle.

The Forth Boat Tours Experience.

The Firth of Forth is brimming with history, adventure and tales of daring do. But the real stars of a Forth Tours cruise are the Three Bridges, scenery, seals and puffins.

Our cruises are not only a great day out in themselves but they also allow you the opportunity to explore some of the very best attractions and sightseeing in Scotland.

Fantastic Combo Tickets – View all

All tickets include a three bridges cruise, the falkirk wheel.

View the three bridges on a Forth Boat Tours cruise and travel on the Falkirk Wheel with an Original Tour ticket.

The Forth Valley Pass is the perfect ticket to explore the Forth Bridge on a Three Bridges Cruise, The Falkirk Wheel and Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway.

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

Journey by sea and rail with a Three Bridges Cruise and a steam train ride on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway.

Exclusive Private Hire

Our vessels are capable of hosting both corporate events, and private parties.

What could be better than celebrating the occasion on the UNESCO World Heritage surroundings of the Firth of Forth.

Enquire today about our range of Private Charters

Group Bookings

Forth Boat Tours welcomes group bookings from parties of all sizes and interests. From school outings and local community groups to coach parties, everyone is welcome on board to be part of our award winning cruise experience.

Great days out in Edinburgh for groups of 15 passengers and more.

See & Do More Vouchers – View all

*only when you purchase a cruise ticket., the royal yacht britannia.

Enjoy 10% off ticket price for up to 4 people.

DYNAMIC EARTH

10% OFF one of Edinburgh’s leading tourist attractions.

SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE

The perfect journey into the world of Scottish Whisky.

Inchcolm Weddings by Forth Boat Tours

Arrive by sea, and get married in one of Scotland’s most historic buildings.

We have a range of wedding packages available to make your special day perfect. Enquire today about one of our Inchcolm Island Weddings.

Explore More – Welcome aboard

Check out the map of the route you will take as we cruise the Firth of Forth.

GIFT VOUCHERS

Give the gift of a Forth Boat Tour cruise, voted best day out in Scotland.

IN THE NEWS

Keep up to date with all of the latest news and updates from Forth Boat Tours.

Welcome on board a Forth Boat Tours cruise along the Firth of Forth and the Three Bridges, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Book HERE .

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Hawes Pier South Queensferry, EH30 9TB OR Port Edgar Marina South Queensferry, EH30 9SQ

Please check our timetable to confirm departure point

Edinburgh (S Queensferry), Scotland

S. Queensferry is a port for the legendary city of Edinburgh, famed for its architecture and design. The finest architects of the 18th century created this city of majestic buildings and elegant squares and streets. The top excursions here visit the commanding Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House, Royal Mile Road, St. Giles Cathedral and Princes Street. On your own, visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center and the National Gallery of Scotland.

Edinburgh Cruise Ship Schedule For 2024

Tours from South Queensferry Cruise Port | Go Scotland Tours

Search lists, search filter, current selection, tour duration, attractions, private tour.

Private Full Day Tour of Edinburgh with Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle

• Tour ID: 1207
• Tour theme: Historic and Cultural Tours ,
• Duration: 1 Day - 8 hours approx.
• Starts from: Edinburgh, South Queensferry

Full day Private tour of Edinburgh. Begin with a tour of the New Town, then Grassmarket, visit Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, then a Royal Mile walking tour

Private Shore Excursion from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1277

Hire a driver guide for a private shore excursion from Edinburgh. Private tours the Edinburgh Cruise Ports of Ocean Terminal, South Queensferry and Rosyth ...

Private Tour to St Andrews and Fife

• Tour ID: 1075
• Starts from: South Queensferry, Edinburgh

Privately guided tour from Edinburgh to St Andrews, with private walking tour of the Cathedral, Castle and University, then free time to see the Home of Golf ..

Private Shore Excursion to Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1508
• Duration: 1 Day - 6-8 hours
• Starts from: South Queensferry

Private Day tour from Queensferry or Rosyth Cruise Port to Edinburgh and the Waterfront. Visit elegant Royal Yacht Britannia home to The Queen for over 40 year.

Edinburgh at your Leisure Private Shore Excursion

• Tour ID: 1510
• Duration: 1 Day - 6 hours

Private Tour from the cruise ship ports of Queensferry and Rosyth. City tour of Edinburgh and a day at your leisure for shopping and exploring the Royal Mile..

Private Tour of Edinburgh and Rosslyn Chapel

• Tour ID: 1084

This is a private tour with a half day tour of Edinburgh in the morning to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. After we then go to the famous Rosslyn Chapel...

Whisky Tour

Glenkinchie Distillery and Johnnie Walker Experience Private Tour from Edinburgh

• Tour ID: 1598
• Tour theme: Whisky Tours ,

A full day of exploring the spirit of Scotland and the lowland whisky region. Your guide can pick you up from your hotel in Edinburgh or cruise ship port. Glenkinchie Distillery, Portobello Beach, Sheeps Heid, Holyrood Disitllery Whisky and Gin.

Private Shore Excursion to Edinburgh Underground Vaults

• Tour ID: 1509
• Duration: 1 Day - 7-8 hours

Private tour from Queensferry or Rosyth to Edinburgh. This tour goes to the Underground Vaults of Edinburgh, then after a city tour of Edinburgh and Royal Mile.

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Princess Cruises welcomes its biggest ship ever with help from a star

It took a star to welcome the sun.

The Sun Princess , that is.

Princess Cruises on Tuesday officially hailed the arrival of its newest megavessel — at 177,882 tons, its biggest ever —with the help of "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham.

The Emmy Award-winning actress and singer presided over a star-studded 19-minute christening ceremony in the ship's Princess Arena theater that included a traditional bottle breaking, with a twist.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Serving as the ship's godmother, Waddingham placed a triangular "sun ray" representing Sun Princess into a sun sculpture on stage to trigger the smashing of a huge bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne — a nebuchadnezzar that holds the equivalent of 20 traditional bottles — against the ship's hull.

"As much as theater ripples through my bloodstream, I have the strongest history of maritime in my family," a clearly proud Waddingham said moments before triggering the bottle smash.

She noted that her still-living, 107-year-old grandfather served on convoy ships crossing the Atlantic during World War II. She also grew up boating.

"It's in my blood and in my bones," she added.

Built at the giant Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, Sun Princess is the most notable new Princess ship to debut in more than a decade. Capable of holding up to 5,189 passengers (a record for a Princess ship), it's not only significantly bigger than previous Princess ships but packed with more onboard venues.

The naming celebration came two months after Sun Princess began sailing for the first time with paying passengers, a debut that was unexpectedly delayed by 20 days due to construction issues.

"Sun Princess is incredible. It's the largest, most luxurious love boat ever," John Padgett, Princess president, said at the event, harking back to the line's long-standing tie to the hit television show "The Love Boat" that ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Three stars from the show — Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell and Jill Whelan, who played bartender Isaac Washington, ship's doctor Adam Bricker and captain's daughter Vicki Stubing, respectively — were in attendance at the event.

The "Love Boat" stars were seated just a couple rows behind Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison and CEO Josh Weinstein.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Princess Cruises.

Makoto Okuwa, a James Beard Foundation honoree who designed a sushi eatery for Sun Princess, and Dario Cecchini, a celebrity Italian butcher who created a meat-focused restaurant for the ship, were also in attendance. So was the Brazilian artist Romero Britto, who sat to the right of Arison. Britto's colorful, upbeat art is the theme for the ship's high-end restaurant, Love by Britto.

Other celebrities at the event included model and television personality Tyra Banks, wildlife show host Jeff Corwin, fashion designer and television host Randy Fenoli and mixologist Rob Floyd. British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performed her smash hit "Pocketful of Sunshine" among other hit songs on the top deck of the ship after the ceremony.

The biggest Princess ship ever

Under development for more than six years, Sun Princess is the first of the new Sphere Class of Princess vessels. The ships have been designed to be significantly bigger than previous Princess vessels and offer several new-for-the-line features.

First look: Inside Sun Princess, the giant new ship from Princess Cruises

Sun Princess is the first Princess ship with suites that come with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck — part of an effort to draw more upscale customers to the brand.

Additionally, Sun Princess offers an innovative new type of "cabana cabin" on the ship's extra-wide 10th deck that features exclusive access to a private deck area. The top deck of the ship also received some unusual-for-Princess sizzle. Passengers will find a glass-dome-topped pool area that transforms into a nightspot after the sun goes down.

Other differences between Sun Princess and earlier Princess ships include the lack of a buffet restaurant on its main pool deck. But don't worry, buffet lovers: There still is a buffetlike venue on the ship. Called The Eatery, it's eight decks below the pool deck, closer to the ship's central piazza and just off its outside promenade.

The ship's main theater, the Princess Arena, also has a new look. Its new-for-Princess, in-the-round shape can be converted into a more traditional proscenium-type theater or a keyhole-type theater to allow for different types of productions.

Among other standout venues, Sun Princess features a secret hideaway for magical performances designed in partnership with the Magic Castle performance venue in Los Angeles.

Related: My strange night out at Princess's new magic-infused night spot

Princess also has revamped its main dining room program with the debut of Sun Princess. It now offers three distinct options for cruisers in its main dining rooms, ranging from a traditional fixed seating experience to a casual, come-when-you-want option that includes quick-served meals and even breakfast for dinner .

The arrival of Sun Princess marks the first time Princess has launched a new class of ship in nearly 11 years. With its debut, Princess now has 16 vessels in its fleet that collectively have room for about 50,000 passengers. That makes Princess the world's fifth-biggest cruise line, behind Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line .

Related: The 4 types of Princess ships, explained

Sun Princess is initially sailing in Europe through the fall. It'll then reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for voyages to the Caribbean. Fares start at $577 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a seven-night Caribbean sailing.

A second ship in the new Sphere Class series, to be called Star Princess, is on order from the Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in 2025. Its first voyage is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2025, and will take place in the Mediterranean.

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I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Related stories

I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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Princess Cruises' Star Princess ship delayed, 9 sailings canceled

Travelers will have to wait longer than planned to sail on Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship.

The delivery of Star Princess, which was set to debut next summer, will be pushed back by about two months. The cruise line said the delay was a “mutual” decision with shipbuilder Fincantieri.

“Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine inaugural sailings,” Princess said in a news release .

Guests whose cruises are impacted will be able to rebook on any Princess ship and, depending on which sailing they pick, receive future cruise and onboard credits. They will also be able to opt for a full refund of their fare instead.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” Princess Cruises President John Padgett said in the release.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

The ship’s new inaugural itineraries will include 11 and seven-day Mediterranean cruises on Oct. 4 and 15, 2025, respectively. Those will be followed by a two-week transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 22, 2025.

Those sailings will be available to book on April 30.

Star Princess will be the second in the line’s Sphere Class. Sister ship Sun Princess was also delayed ahead of its launch earlier this year, with Princess citing “additional technical work” needed at the shipyard.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].